At a cultural showcase in Beijing, Uzbekistan’s Consulate announced a reciprocal 30-day visa-free regime for Chinese nationals effective 1 June 2025. The press release, reproduced on 24 October by multiple Chinese outlets, stipulates that Chinese tourists (ordinary passports) may enter visa-free for stays totalling 90 days within any 180-day period. The exemption complements China’s own waiver for Uzbek citizens introduced the same day.
Why it matters: • It is the first Central Asian country to grant Chinese travellers unilateral 30-day entry, strengthening Belt-and-Road tourism corridors along the ancient Silk Road. • China Southern Airlines has scheduled thrice-weekly Guangzhou–Tashkent flights from December to capture pent-up demand; inbound tour operators in Samarkand predict a 200 percent rise in Chinese arrivals for 2026.
Business angle: Chinese EPC contractors building solar farms and logistics parks in Navoi Free Economic Zone gain agility—short-term staff can rotate without the delays of an LOI-based visa. Chinese HR teams should, however, note that work or study activities still require appropriate permits under Uzbek law.
Risk notes: Travellers must register their accommodation within 24 hours via the E-mehmon system; non-compliance draws fines. Also, the visa-free stay does not exempt individuals from Uzbekistan’s new e-customs declaration for electronics worth over US$1,500.
Bilateral optics: The waiver showcases deepening Sino-Uzbek ties ahead of the planned high-speed rail MoU signing in Q1 2026 and demonstrates Beijing’s push for two-way mobility rather than one-sided inbound easing.
Why it matters: • It is the first Central Asian country to grant Chinese travellers unilateral 30-day entry, strengthening Belt-and-Road tourism corridors along the ancient Silk Road. • China Southern Airlines has scheduled thrice-weekly Guangzhou–Tashkent flights from December to capture pent-up demand; inbound tour operators in Samarkand predict a 200 percent rise in Chinese arrivals for 2026.
Business angle: Chinese EPC contractors building solar farms and logistics parks in Navoi Free Economic Zone gain agility—short-term staff can rotate without the delays of an LOI-based visa. Chinese HR teams should, however, note that work or study activities still require appropriate permits under Uzbek law.
Risk notes: Travellers must register their accommodation within 24 hours via the E-mehmon system; non-compliance draws fines. Also, the visa-free stay does not exempt individuals from Uzbekistan’s new e-customs declaration for electronics worth over US$1,500.
Bilateral optics: The waiver showcases deepening Sino-Uzbek ties ahead of the planned high-speed rail MoU signing in Q1 2026 and demonstrates Beijing’s push for two-way mobility rather than one-sided inbound easing.
